WhatsApp Is Introducing A New Voice Chat Feature For Large Groups
No more awkward group calls from the family group.
By Syazwan Bahri — 14 Nov 2023, 05:19 PM
WhatsApp is introducing a new, non-intrusive method for voice chat in groups with more than 32 participants
Have you ever received an awkward group call from a WhatsApp group that you're not actively participating in? Surely, you'll feel guilty for ignoring the call; what if it's something urgent? What if they're planning something that includes you?
Most of the time, it's simply an honest mistake — usually, it's the classic case of the 'fat finger' fumble — or simply someone looking to talk to another person in the group.
Gone are the days of those awkward WhatsApp group moments.
The new 'voice chat' will only send a push notification to join the call instead of ringing everyone's phones
Additionally, there will be an in-chat bubble that they can tap to seamlessly join the conversation.
In the voice chat, call controls will be conveniently located at the top of the chat, ensuring they don't interfere with a participant's ability to send text messages simultaneously. Like standard WhatsApp messages, voice chats are secured with end-to-end encryption and can accommodate up to 32 participants.
If the voice chat remains empty for 60 minutes, it will be automatically ended
This new feature is accessible for groups ranging from 33 to 128 participants. WhatsApp has also tested this feature with smaller chat groups during the beta-testing phase.
It's important to note that, as of now, this feature is not available on linked devices.
This feature is currently being rolled out to users with the latest version of the app on iOS and Android
To enjoy this new feature, make sure that you have the latest version of the app installed on your phone. If it doesn't appear in your respective app store, it will probably appear sooner or later.
